OCMS: First Show of the Year

Headed down south to the land of the pines...

Old Crow Medicine Show played to a boisterous crowd at the MAC in Prestonsburg, KY on Wednesday Night (1/28/09). The weather outside was cold/snowy and many folks in the area were without power (including myself) due to an ice storm that had hit a day earlier. However, the Crows came with a 2 1/2 hour set that broke through the ice and provided some much needed heat and power.

The show was the first of the year for the Crows as Willie Watson/Ketch Secor sang their hearts out. Numerous songs were played from their 2008 release Tennessee Pusher including Alabama High-Test, Methaphetamine, Mary's Kitchen, Caroline, Tennessee Pusher and the party song Humdinger. The song was introduced by saying it was wrote out by the dumpster behind the building. Guit-jo player Kevin Hayes took his turn on the vocals on this one. Another new song was introduced by Ketch Secor. He described a trip in which he hitchhiked from the Wal-Mart parking lot in Pikeville, dropped off in Paintsville, then caught a ride to Fort Gay, WVA, and then picked up by 2 meth-heads from Jackson County Ohio. He said all the while he felt like he had a guardian angel watching over him as he led into Highway Halo.


The older favorites like James River Blues and I Hear Them were played as well. As always they brought the house down with Tell It To Me and Wagon Wheel. The later being a fan favorite and a great sing-along song.



[OCMS - Wagon Wheel/Tell It To Me]

For the encore and concert closer an appropriate song was played; a cover of The Everly Brothers song Kentucky.

"Kentucky, You are the dearest land outside of Heaven to me

Kentucky, I miss your laurels and your redbud trees

When I die, I want to rest upon your graceful mountains so free

For that is where God will look for me"

A great show for a cold January's night and afterwards the band stuck around for photos and autographs.

Superbowl Prediction
Pitsburgh Steelers 24/Arizona Cardinals 20

Working On a Dream

The new day breaks and ...

The new release from Bruce and the E Street gang is available today! It got a great review in Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/25463406/review/25523370/working_on_a_dream

All Mod Cons

I ride a G.S. scooter with my hair cut neat...

The Mods (short for Modernists) were part of a British subculture; a lifestyle of the youth that began in London in the 1950's and peaked in popularity in 1960's. The Mods had a unique style, adopting trendy Italian and French fashions; Italian jackets with narrow lapels, thin ties, mohair suits, sweaters, zoot suits, clothes featuring pop art such as jackets made from the union flag, French style haircuts, even bowling shoes. They drove scooters instead of motorbikes to protect their clothes from being stained. They wore military coats over their clothes to protect them from the elements.

The Mods rivals were the Rockers, who were more akin to greasers. The Rockers wore leather jackets and rode motorcycles.



[Are You a Mod or Rocker?]

One of the early Mod bands was The High Rollers. They're manager was a bloke named Peter Meaden who was a Mod. He wanted a Mod band and directed their first single Zoot Suit/I'm the Face toward the Mods. A Zoot Suit was a style of suit popular with that crowd and a Face or Ace Face was kind of a leader in the Mod culture. The single failed to chart and the band changed managers and their moniker to The Who. With their edgy sound and wild stage show they became very popular among the British Mods. Their blend of anthemic rock and rhythm and blues would become known as "Maximum R and B".

Pete Townshend would later write a rock opera about the Mods in The Who's 1973 classic album Quadrophenia. The story of Jimmy, a schizophrenic Mod who suffered with four personalities (each represented a member of The Who).

[The Who - I Can't Explain]

Another popular Mod band was The Kinks.

[The Kinks - Gotta Move]

In the late 1970's The Jam lead the way for a Mod revival. The trio from Surrey, England flashed their Who and Kinks influence like a calling card. The album titles reflected the Mod influence; This is The Modern World, All Mod Cons (short for "all modern conveniences", a play on words). The Jam was very popular in Britain, but they never achieved the same success in the states.

Also in 1979 the film version of Quadrophenia was released. The film true to the original Quadrophia story line documented the feel of the original Mod movement of the 60's.

[The Jam - In the City]

I recently discovered the Len Price 3; direct descendants in the Who, Kinks, Jam family line. Listening to their 2007 release Rentacrowd reminds me of the early Townshend written singles and early Jam records; very Mod indeed.

[Len Price 3 - Rentacrowd]

MLK

Sleep tonight and may your dreams be realized...

There have been many great songs and tributes to Martin Luther King. U2's Pride (In the Name of Love) may be my favorite.

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One come he to justify
One man to overthrow

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist One man washed on an empty beach.
One man betrayed with a kiss

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love (nobody like you...)

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love...


[U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)]



[OCMS - Motel in Memphis]



[Dion - Abraham, Martin and John (live on the Smothers Brothers)]



[Bob Dylan - A Change is Gonna Come]

Sam Cooke wrote and recorded A Change is Gonna Come in 1963. The song was only a modest hit at the time, but came to exemplify the 1960's Civil Rights Movement. The song has gained in popularity and critical acclaim in the decades since its release.

I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees

Ohhhhhhhhh.....
There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Beatlesque

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...

I love The Beatles; I love songs that remind me of the Beatles. Occasionally a new song or a new band comes along with a hint of that Beatles sound; Beatlesque.

The Smithereens have alway been Beatlesque. Since back in 1986 when Especially For You came out with it's throwback to the 60's sound and hints of fabness. In 2007 The Smithereens covered the entire Meet The Beatles album with their own versions entitled Meet The Smithereens. This was somewhat of a novel idea, being somewhat risky and safe at the same time. The new versions paled in comparison, but they still had a charm of their own. In 2008 The Smithereens came back with another tip of the hat to the fab four with B Sides-The Beatles. I find these covers of the fab four's b-sides and rarities even more charming.




[The Smithereens - B Sides-The Beatles]

The highlight for me is Some Other Guy, a song that I remember mostly in the footage of the early Beatles playing in the Cavern Club.

[Beatles - Some Other Guy (1962-The Cavern Club)]

It also reminds me that several years ago I saw a show on PBS called John Lennon's Jukebox(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/lennon/). The show was about the music that John Lennon had on his own Jukebox. Several of the songs, The Beatles covered in the early part of their career. One of the songs was Some Other Guy by The Big Three. I tried to find that version of the song after that but to no avail.


I was recently listening to my station on Pandora (http://www.pandora.com/) and heard a song that wreaked of Bealesque. The band was The Minders and the song Hooray For Tuesday. I found the CD on Amazon and after only one listen I am impressed with the 1960's vibe and Rubber Soul-era sound. More later...

[The Minders - Yeah Yeah Yeah]

Along the same lines, there is a very interesting read on the Esquire Magazine website - quotes from Little Steve Van Zandt:
http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/steven-van-zandt-quotes-0109
On the Beatles..."February 8, 1964, there was not one single rock 'n' roll band in the country. February 9, the Beatles played The Ed Sullivan Show. February 10, everyone had one. In the garage. "Garage rock" is traditional rock 'n' roll. If you think of it as the early Stones, you're fine."

Beatlesque


[The Monkees - No Time]

[Badfinger - Come and Get It]


[The Cars - My Best Friend's Girlfriend]

[The Rain Parade - I Look Around]

[Tears For Fears - Sowing the Seeds of Love]

[Oasis - Wonderwall]


Football Note:
After going 4 - 4 the first 2 weekends I'll march on;

Pittsburgh Steelers over Baltimore Ravens 18-14

Arizona Cardinals over Philadelphia Eagles 34-24

Classic Album Rewind: Wilco - Being There

I've always admired artists that could come up with a enough solid material to put together a double album. Some of my favorite albums are doubles such as The Who's mod rock opera Quadrophenia, The Clash's landmark London Calling, The Beatles White Album, Bruce Springsteen's The River and from the 90's Wilco's Being There.

Jeff Tweedy formed Wilco after parting ways with his fellow Uncle Tupelo band mates Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn (who formed half of the original Son Volt). Jeff, along with bassist John Stirratt, drummer Ken Coomer and multi-instrumnentalist Max Johnston released their debut CD A.M. in 1995. The reviews of the release were somewhat of a disapointment compared to the favorable reviews that Son Volt's debut Trace had recieved.

With the pressure on to deliver, the band proceeded to record the next album; bringing in several other musicians including Jay Bennet, another very tallented multi-instrumental musician. The recording process produced 19 songs, too many for a single album. So the classic Being There was born. The album title was taken from the Peter Seller's movie of the same name. Disc 1

• Misunderstood - The opening song is one of the most powerful and best songs that Jeff Tweedy has written; very much in the vein of John Lennon. The song builds with tension until by the end Jeff is almost yelling "I want to thank you for nothing".


• Far, Far Away - In this song the singer yearns to see and hold his girl. A beautiful ballad which features electric piano and pedal steel guitar.


• Monday - A fun 70's rocker right out of The Rolling Stones or Big Star playbook shows that the band can rock it out.


• Outtasite (Outta Mind) - Ditto - Another great rocker!


• Forget the Flowers - A little country ditty featuring the banjo and pedal steel guitar


• Red-Eyed and Blue - A great folk sounding song with a clever play on words title featuring guitar and piano; the lyrics are dark, but the music is somehow uplifting.


• I Got You (End of the Century) - Another great rocker along the lines of Big Star.


• What's The World Got In Store - A mid-tempo song featuring the banjo and organ.


• Hotel Arizona - Great tune about being on the verge of making it big. I love the droning guitar and backing vocals.


• Say You Miss Me - This mid-tempo ballad shows the ache of seperation from the singers loved one. The song contains some great background vocals.

[Wilco - Misunderstood (live Lollapolooza)]

[Wilco - Monday]

Disc 2

• Sunken Treasure - Disc 2 begins with the hauntingly-pain soaked Sunken Treasure in which Jeff sings "I am so out of tune with you".


• Someday Soon - A country tune with a more positive message.


• Outta Mind (Outta Site) - A more popier/less rocking version of disc 1's Outtasite (Outta Mind).


• Someone Else's Song - A folk ballad from a long time ago or at least that's what is sounds like.


• Kingpin - A funky little tune with some clever & funny word-play.


• Was I In Your Dreams? - A slow tune in which the singer is questioning his girl on the telephone about missing him.


• Why Would You Wanna Live? - I love the false beginning; Another slow tune with faint echoes of John Lennon


• The Lonely 1 - A lonely folk ballad from the point of view of an over zealous fan of his gutar hero.


• Dreamer in My Dreams - A ragged Faces meet Stones rocker that sounds like the wheel may come off at any moment (which it does in the end, but they just crank it back up). Great ending to a great CD.

[Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasure]

[Wilco - I Got You (At The End of the Century)]

Playoffs? Weekend 2

Well, I'm just around the corner to the light of day...

After the first weekend of the playoffs I'm 2-2.


Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans

I saw Steve Earle and Allison Moorer in 2008 in support of Steve's fine Washington Square Serenade. The leadoff song on that CD was Tennessee Blues, a sequel of somewhat to 1986's Guitar Town. The song is about Steve leaving Nashville for New York with his red head by his side: "Sunset in my mirror, pedal on the floor; Bound for New York City and I won`t be back no more; Won`t be back no more, boys won`t see me around; Goodbye guitar town" and "Blue dog on my floorboard, redhead by my side; Cross the mighty Hudson river to the New York City side; Redhead by my side, boys sweetest thing I`ve found; Goodbye guitar town".

[Steve Earle - Tennessee Blues]

The Baltimore/Tennessee matchup, two defensive jugernauts, reminds me of a movie title - The Clash of the Titans. Speaking of The Clash, in 2003 Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt, Elvis Costello and Dave Grohl played tribute to one of the great bands of all times.

[Springsteen, Van Zandt, Costello, Grohl - London Calling (Grammys)]

My Pick: Baltimore Ravens over Tennessee Titans 14-10


Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers

One of the many highlights from last years The Racounteurs great release Consolers of the Lonely was Carolina Drama. Aptly titled, this tale is about a divorced mother and her two sons and ... well you figure it out.

[The Raconteurs - Carolina Drama (live at Coachella)]

Wilco has been a band that with each new release seems to - if not raise the bar, at least maintain a level that few others have been able to reach. They followed up 2002's landmark Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with the solid CD called A Ghost is Born. It's companion online released EP featured a song called Panthers.

Wilco is expected to release their 9th studio CD this year. As usuall Jeff Tweedy is talking of taking the band in a different direction. This year is alreay shaping up to be a great year musically.

My Pick: Carolina Panthers over Arizona Cardinals 30-17


San Diego Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Bruce Springsteen, after somewhat of a dull decade away from the E Street Band in the 1990's began the great comeback this decade with 1998's release of Tracks. A sprawling 4 CD set of unreleased music from the all three decades of Bruce. It was inspiring to hear new Bruce tunes from the early years as well as some absolute gems from later periods. After this release Bruce and the band reunited for the great Reunion Tour or as I called it at the time- The Glory Days Tour. It was great to see Little Steven Van Zandt back in the fold and on stage not only with his old pals, but also with fellow guitarist (who replaced Lil' Steven) Nils Lofgren. This tour clicked and the band delivered night after night after night. Listen to the CD or watch the DVD Live in New York for living proof.

One of the fine tracks from Tracks was A Good Man is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh). This was an outtake from 1982 and Born in the USA sessions. I saw Walter Egan in 1978 open for Kansas (I think). At the time Egen was in support of his album Not Shy which was produce by Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut. His hit single Magnet and Steel was on the charts at the time making it up to #8.

My pick: Pittsbugh Steelers over San Diego Chargers 28-20

New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles

After a couple of sub-par releases, U2 bounced back strong with 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind. The CD included great songs like Beautiful Day, Kite, Walk On, Elevation, In a Little While and this gem New York.

[U2 - New York (live in Boston)]

The made for TV band The Monkees produced some pretty darn good pop music in their day. The Monkees were the creation of Don Kirshner; backed by some fine studio muscians; armed with some great tunes written the likes of Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Harry Nilsson, Barry Mann, and Gerry Goffin and Carole King; and a natural chemistry created from the mix of 2 musicians (Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork) and 2 show biz types (Davie Jones and Mickey Dolenz). There run was short lived, 1966 thru the end of the 60's, but many great tunes were made. The b-side to Take The Last Train To Clarksville was a Goffin-King song called Take a Giant Step.
My Pick: New York Giants over Philadelphia Eagles 28-21

Playoffs? Day 2

Out here in the fields...

It's the time of the year where the Super Bowl hype will soon begin. I generally enjoy the hoopla; the game, the food, the commercials - the half time show... Through the years there have been some great half time shows (U2, Tom Petty & Paul McCartney) and some controversial ones. As the world knows by now the Boss and his band of merry men, The E Street Band, are going to perform their version of the super bowl shuffle. Timed with the February 1 show is the release of Working On a Dream, Bruce's and the Boys (and Girls) lastest project. Having heard 2 songs through early releases, Working On a Dream and My Lucky Day, I have high expectations for both the CD and the Halftime Show.
[Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Super Bowl ad]

After going 0-2 yesterday, we shall overcome or at least continue.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins

Baltimore Ravens:
The Counting Crows released their fantastic debut cd in 1993 August and Everything After. The CD produced by producer extraordinaire T-Bone Burnett, whose list of production include The Wallflowers' Bringing Down The Horse, Los Lobos' How Will The Wolf Survive?, O Brother Where Art There soundtrack, Robert Plant and Allison Krauss's Raising Sand and many others. August and Everything After contained the hits Mr. Jones and Rain King, as well as other excellent songs including Sullivan Street, Anna Begins, Omaha and Raining In Baltimore.

[The Counting Crows - Raining in Baltimore (lyrics)]

Ravens are black birds and members of the crow family, ironcially enough. In 1968 The Beatles released the sprawling double album know as The White Album. The classic album flows together, despite being almost like 4 solo albums merged together. One of the Paul McCartney gems was Blackbird, an ode to the civil rights movement. Paul sings "Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly; All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise".

[Paul McCartney - Blackbird]

Miami Dolphins:
Bono sang on U2's 1997 Miami: "Weather 'round here chopping and changing; Surgery in the air; Print shirts and southern accents; Cigars and big hair; We got the wheels, petrol's cheap; We only went there for a week; Got the sun, got the sand Got the batteries in the handycam... "

The Notorious Byrd Brothers released in 1968 was the fifth album by The Byrds. The group in constant change having just booted David Crosby and about to add Gram Parsons to their fold and to go on to record and release their Alt-Country landmark Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Dolphin's Smile from Notorious was written by The Byrds' big three Roger McGuinn, David Crosby and Chris Hillman.


[The Byrds - Dolphin's Smile]

My Pick: Baltimore Ravens over Miami Dolphis 17-15


Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles:
The 1993 Oscar award winning film Philadelphia contained a terrific soundtrack. It featured the Academy Award winning song by Bruce Springsteen; The Streets of Philadelphia, as well as a great song by Neil Young; Philadelphia.

[Neil Young - Philadelphia (live Academy Award Show]



The Steve Miller Band released a powerful song and album in 1976 both titled Fly Like An Eagle. The song went to No. 2 on the charts and became a hit again when Seal remade the song for the movie Space Jam.Minnesota Vikings:

The Hold Steady are from Brooklyn, NY with Minnesota roots. Many of their songs reflect those roots such as Stuck Between Stations from 2006's Boys and Girls in America: "He loved the Golden Gophers but he hated all the drawn out winters. He likes the warm feeling but he’s tired of all the dehydration; Most nights were kind of fuzzy, but that last night he had total retention; These Twin Cities kisses sound like clicks and hisses".

[The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations (live on Letterman)]

In 1995 I attended the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and saw many artists, including Los Lobos. The Wolves played great songs from throughout their catalogue. Late in their set they played homage to Neil Young with his Cinnamon Girl. From their 1999 CD This Time comes the song Viking.

[Los Lobos - Viking]

My Pick: Philadelphia Eagles over Minnesota Vikings 24-18

Playoffs? Don't Talk About Playoffs! Playoffs?

Out in here in the fields....

I saw The Mavericks back in 1996, the Alt-Country quartet that was lead by Raul Malo. With numerous different colored lava lamps along the stage, the band delivered a hot set of songs from their first 2 releases including O What a Thrill, What a Crying Shame, Here Comes The Rain, etal. They topped the show off with a dead-on reading of Roy Orbison's Crying. The Mavs were on tour supporting their second CD release - Music For All Occasions. A title which applies here.

[The Mavericks - What a Crying Shame (live)]

The occasion is the NFL playoffs. To quote then Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Mora: "Playoffs? don't talk about playoffs! playoffs?" I was fortunate enough to see several NFL games this year, but unfortunately the team that I root for did not make the playoffs. However, in honor of those that did, here is The Corner's tribute to those teams and my predictions.


[Playoffs?]

Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons:
Alison Krauss sang "Oh, Atlanta I hear you calling; I'm coming back to you one fine day; No need to worry, There ain't no hurry cause I'm on my way back to Georgia". I saw Alison bring down the house with this one at the IBMA fan fest in 1995.

[Alison Krauss - Oh, Atlanta (live)]

The Falcons were an R&B group out of Detroit, Michigan whose original member included Eddie Floyd. As a solo artist, Floyd along with Steve Cropper would write the 1966 Eddie Floyd hit Knock On Wood. Another future Falcon member, Wilson Pickett scored a hit with The Falcons in 1962 I Found a Love. In 1995 I attended the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and saw many artists, including Wislon Pickett. Wilson was still wicked belting out Mustang Sally, Midnight Hour and others.

Arizona Cardinals:
Wilco released in 1996 one of my favorite all-time sets Being There. A double album full of great songs. I plan on reviewing Being There on this blog later on. Jeff Tweedy sang "Hotel in Arizona, made us all want to feel like stars" in the terrific song from Being There, Hotel Arizona. Another artist in the same vein, Alejandro Escovedo, recorded the fine song Arizona, from his 2006 release The Boxing Mirror.

[Wilco - Hotel Arizona (live)]

After being a member of the Alt-Country outfit, Whiskeytown, and recording several solo records, the prolific Ryan Adams teamed up with the backing band The Cardinals. Adams and the Cardinals have released a series of alt-country albums. Magnolia Mountain from 2005's Cold Roses is an excellent song.

My Pick: Atlanta Falcons over Arizona Cardinals 24-21

Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers

Indianapolis Colts:
In 1970 R.Dean Taylor had a hit with Indiana Wants Me. The song is about a man on the lam from the law. John Mellecamp, a resident of Indiana sang "Come on baby take a ride with me; I'm up from Indiana down to Tennessee; Everything is cool as can be in a peaceful world". Check out John's tribute version for New York City after 911.

[John Mellencamp - Peaceful World (Concerts for NY City)]

Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded a song called Who Colt the Game.

San Diego Chargers:
Bruce Springsteen sang in the classic epic Rosalita, "I know a pretty little place in Southern California down San Diego way". This song is always a great concert song.

The Chargers nickname are the bolts as in lightning bolts. Call Me Lightning was a typical early sounding classic song by The Who. Now ladies and gentlemen, dig The Who!

[The Who - Call Me Lightning (video)]

My Pick: Indianapolis Colts over San Diego Chargers 31-21

The Phantom & The Originator

This corner is a little darker as we lost a couple of friends in 2008:

Danny "The Phantom" Federici was one of the original residents on E Street. Having learned the accordian and keyboards at an early age, Danny (along with Vini Lopez) formed the band Child. Their lead singer was Bruce Springsteen with whom Danny would play with as an E Streeter for nearly the next 40 years.

Bo Diddley was one of the originals in the early days of rock and roll. He created "the Bo Didley sound", a samba like beat which was used in his songs such as Hey! Bo Didley and Mona. The beat has been used by many including The Who in Magic Bus and Bruce Springsteen in She's The One. The Animals capture the early Bo Diddley story in their tribute song The Story of Bo Diddley.


(The Animals - The Story of Bo Diddley)

2008 Music Lists

I always look forward to reading other peoples end-of-year best-of lists almost as much as I enjoy putting my own list together. Having read lots of lists over the years I have never seen two exactly the same. That's part of the lure of the lists; I discover a lot of new artists/music from people that have similar tastes as mine. Many of the lists that I have seen this year include new releases by Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend. I've only heard the Fleet Foxes with Wilco on their live version of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", but I am looking forward to checking out both of these new bands in the coming year.

I listen to as much music as I have time for and can reasonably afford. This past year much of my listening pleasure was spent on My Morning Jacket's Evil Urges and The Raconteurs' Consolers of the Lonely. Evil Urges was the years musical suprise; MMJ took a leap of faith into unexpected territory that included r&b, funk, disco and soft rock. The Raconteurs came roaring back with Consolers of the Lonely which was a little more edgier than their great 2006 release Broken Boy Soldier.

[The Raconteurs - Rich Kid Blues (Live Glastonbury)]

[My Morning Jacket - I'm Amazed (Video)]

Other great music releases of 2008 include: The Hold Steady continue to gain momentum with Stay Positive; Coldplay delivered yet another solid group of songs with Viva La Vida; Mudcrutch, Tom Petty's early band reunited for their overdue debut; and the Old 97's released Blame It On Gravity, another cd filled with their Texas brand of hook filled rock.

[Coldplay - Viva La Vida (ITunes Ad)]

My Top 5 CDs of 2008
5. Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch
4. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
3. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
2.The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
1. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

My Top 10 Songs of 2008
10. Mudcrutch - Topanga Cowgirl
9. My Morning Jacket - Touch Me I'm Going To Scream part 1
8. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
7. The Raconteurs - The Switch and The Spur
6. Radiohead - Bodysnatchers
5. Lucinda Williams - Real Love
4. My Morning Jacket - The Librarian
3. The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
2. My Morning Jacket - I'm Amazed
1. The Raconteurs - Rich Kid Blues

As we enter into 2009 I am excited about new upcoming releases: Bruce Springsteen (Working On a Dream): U2 (No Line On The Horizon); Wilco (no title yet); Neil Young (The Archives Vol 1 1963-1972); and maybe The White Stripes. However, I am guarded about the world's news in these uncertain times. As I ponder the new year a line from one of last years songs comes to mind...we got to Stay Positive...